The Sharks arrived at Swindon in a bright, confident mood, looking to build on their success from earlier in the season and to add to their silverware. However, despite impressive performances in the knock out stages which secured them a place in the cup final, the final victory eluded them, and the Silverback Scorpions were crowned champions.
The first match in the group stage was against the Public School Wanderers. The Sharks were cautious in their approach, working their systems and finding their feet, moving the ball in a relaxed manner but ready to strike at any moment. With Marine Watisoni Vakalutukali (Toots) leading the side, they were able to score first with a s...
Jamie Campbell-Baldwin caught up with Commander Mark Deller as he stepped down from his role as the RNRU Director of Rugby (DoR) to concentrate on his day job as Commander Air in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier. Read on as he reflects on the past two years.
What was the most enjoyable part of the DoR job? Most definitely the Rugby – my focus has always been on the main output and ensuring we don’t lose sight of it. Getting to know and mixing with the respective player groups and Training Support Groups (TSGs) has been really interesting – we’ve got some really committed people both playing and managing, all willing to go the e...
Navy and UK Armed Forces Rugby Referee Dunx McClement has ended an excellent season by being named the Scottish Rugby Union’s Referee of the Year for 2015/16. The award was presented by SRU Council Member and World Rugby Referee Performance Reviewer Fergus Neil and Sky TV’s Jo Wilson at the prestigious SRU Annual Awards Dinner held at BT Murrayfield.
The award caps a fine 12 months for Commander McClement who is currently serving as Head of Safety Assurance at HM Naval Base Clyde. Awarded his Navy Colours for refereeing the Army v RAF Inter Service fixture at the end of last season, he became only the third Navy Referee in history to be put in charge of t...
The perfect conditions for the annual Royal Navy Rugby Union golf day ensured that the Jack Nicklaus designed course, at the St Mellion International Resort, looked resplendent, with lush fairways and vibrant greens. However, the tricky course, sculptured in to the rolling Cornish hillside, still proved to be a challenge to all the day’s participants. For those who did stray from the chosen line, the day’s golfing format of Texas Scramble lived up to its name.
The format ensures that each team of four stay together as they complete their round, with all four players playing from the best lie. This ensured there was plenty of time to reminisce over a seaso...
It is with sadness that the RNRU reports the news of the sudden death of former RNRU player, Chris Monk. Chris was out enjoying an evening run along the cycle path between Lympstone and Exmouth last Tuesday 31 May when he collapsed and, despite receiving first aid, could not be revived.
Serving for 17 years as an Instructor Officer and Engineering Training Manager, Chris was capped twice for the RN in 1998, playing scrum-half in both Inter Service matches against the RAF and the Army.
His funeral will take place at 1.45pm on Friday 24 June at East Devon crematorium and will be followed by a celebration of Chris's life to be held at the Redwing pub in Lympstone from 4pm....
